Electrically moved display apparatus



July 28, 1931.

A. WATERS ET AL ELECTRICALLY MOVED DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed July 30. 1929Miami 9 Patented July 28, 1931 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERTWATERS, OF GLEN IRIS, AND SYLVESTER JOSEPH WATERS, OF TOORAK, VICTORIA,AUSTRALIA ELECTBICALLY MOVED DISPLAY APPARATUS Application filed July30, 1929, Serial No. 382,243, and in Australia June 26, 1929.

silent, than has hitherto been available, so

far as we are aware, to impart intermittent progressive movements toarticles for advertising, display, and other purposcs,for 1nstance torotate a shop showcase, or table carrymg wares, or to d1splay a rotatingpyramid, drum, or endless band, carrying advertisement 1natterthe motorbeing particularly su1table for persons who cannot afford the moreexpensive apparatus now in use for the said purposes. Another ob ect isto combine with an electromagnet a springy vibrator to which is attachedan arm which gives a pushing effect and which frictionally grips, andslidably contacts on, an article to produce progressive intermittentmovements thereof.

The forward movements are extremely short, but extremely frequent,yielding a gentle and at first glance almost imperceptible effect whichdoes not annoy or jar on an observer, no motor hitherto devised havingproduced such strokes which in some cases are each only a fewthousandths of an inch in length. The motor and its connections will beeither visible or hidden, and illuminating effects (not herein claimed)are usable in addition, for example flash lamps within the casing.

Other features of the invention are indicated hereinafter. The motor,set to drive a rotatable showcase from within, is herewith illustratedand hereinafter described, but

other applications can obviously be effected. The showcase or any partof it is of any appropriate material, and degree of transparency oropacity. Details shown in the drawings can be varied while retainingmatter within the scope of the claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a showcase, the top of which is atable, part being broken away to show the interior.

Figure 2 is a plan of the motor ready to be clamped in working position.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the outer end of the vibrator carryinga resilient arm a. pusher, to fit on the arm, is shown detached.

Figure 4 is a side elcvat ion of a part. of Figure 2 in the positionassumed when the pusher is in the act of advancing.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of part of the vibrator carrying anadjustable arm, the. details being modified.

Figure 6 is a sectional side elevation of the said arm carrying anadjustable pusher which bears on a serrated surface, but the teeth shownare, in order to be clearly visible. in the drawings, considerablyexaggerated in slze. V

1 is the electro-magnet connectable in any suitable circuit having leads2, 2; and I is its core, extending from any suitable base, shown as abar 3, and positioned to intermittently attract a vibrator 1", shown ofblade form. The electro-magnet used is suited to the kind of currentused, that shown suiting an alternating one.

At a suitable point relatively to the vibrator free end 1*, the innerpart 4 of a stem or arm 4, is connected, the outer end 4 being of anysuitable form to act as, or to carry, a pusher shown as a member 5 oftapered block form, but made in practice. of auvsuitable form and size.

The vibrator is suitably elongated, one end having any desired anchorage7". Arm 4 extends from the vibrator at any suitabl angle. Arm 4 wouldact if pivoted to the vibrator and allowed at its other end to bear bygravity on the surface to be pushed. In the drawings arm 4 has a bow atits end, l", through which an adjusting screw 4 carrying a nut 14extends, whereby to compress the bow and cause the position of arm 4relatively to the vibrator and to surface 6 to beadjusted, so as toregulate the pressure which pusher 5 exerts on surface 6, the pushershown in Figure 6 being also adjustable on the arm 4, which is shownwith its end pushed through sleeve 5 on the pusher, and held by a setscrew 5. The contact of the pusher with surface 6 is advantageouslyadjustable and located at or near the periphery of the latter. Anattendant can at any time adjust the frictional, pressing, anddrivingforce which is exerted on surface 6.

Arm 4 is advantageously made flexible and resilient and is notnecessarily straight at any time.

To allow of adjusting arm 4 along vibrator 1" to vary the position ofcontact on surface (3 Figure 5 shows a vibrator slot 1 housing a slide 4which carries arm 4 the slide being positioned suitably. It is shownpositioned by a tongue and groove joint 4, and screws 4, but other waysin which the arm could be adjustably connected are obvious.

In Figure 3 a spear head 4 on arm 4 is provided on which is forced thepusher 5 which not only propels surface 6 but also, by hearing down onit can be made to prevent its gaining momentum. Hence to alter the speedof propulsion arm 4 is made adjustable by screw 4 to make the pressureon surface 6 lighter or heavier.

\Vhen the downward pressure as distinguished from the forward pressureon surface (i is made light that surface can gain momentum from itsintermittent propulsion, but when the pressure isrelatively heavy thereis not that momentum so the speed is less. The back strokes are grips,the forward strokes are impulses. 1 The nearer periphery 6" of surface 6the pusher makes contact the slower the rotation. During each push, arm4which may flex slightlycan act without a rubber end, but a pusher witha bevelled contacting edge 5 When made of soft rubber acts well becauseits tip becomes a little. compressed as it grips each successive part ofsurface 6 at the beginning of each onward push; but a bevelled edge isnot necessarily the only part which contacts with surface 6, and it isfound advantageous to allow an under surface of the pusher to socontact. A fairly smooth surface 6 is usable but a finely serrated oneis also serviceable.

The electro-n'iagnet can be held in place in various ways but is shownwith a frame 7, and clamp 7", which grips an axial spindle 8 in ashowcase l0, the spindle having a support 9. The spindle carriesconductors 2, 2, and supports in ball bearings 8 to enable very slightforce to suffice to move surface 6.

The top 11 of the article moved may bear advertising and goods.

The motor is started by closing, and stopped by breaking, the electriccircuit.

The mechanism is applicable for moving articles other than those fordisplay purposes.

We claim 1. A propelling mechanism including in combination, astationary spindle, a support rotatably mounted on the spindle, anelectromagnet fixed to the spindle and including a vibrating element,the outer end of which is provided with a longitudinal slot, a flexiblespring arms, means for slidably mounting the inner end of the arm in theslot so as to vary the position of the arm on the vibrating element, thearm being extended at an angle from the vibrating element towards thesupport and adapted to impart intermittent movement to the supportduring operation of the vibrating element.

2. A propelling mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein means isprovided to adjust the pressure of the arm on the support.

3. A propelling mechanism including in combination, a stationaryspindle, a support rotatably mounted on the spindle, an electromagnetlixed to the spindle and including a vibrating element, an arm attachedto the vibrating element and extending at an angle therefrom towards thesupport and adapted to impart intermittent movement to the sup- 'portduring operation of the vibrating ele-

